Article-straightening apparatus for use with labeling machines



s. T. CARTER 3,115,232

ARTICLE-STRAIGHTENING APPARATUS FOR USE WITH LABELING MACHINES Dec. 24, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 29, 1961 ATT'YS.

S. T. CARTER Dec. 24, 1963 ARTICLE-STRAIGHTENING APPARATUS FOR USE WITH LABELING MACHINES Filed March 29, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 AT T'YS.

Dec. 24, 1963 s. T. CARTER 3,115,232

ARTICLE-STRAIGHTENING APPARATUS FOR USE WITH LABELING MACHINES Filed March 29, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTYS.

United States Patent O 3,115,232 ARTICLE-STRAIGHTENIN G APPARATUS FOR USE WITH LABELING MACHINES Sidney T. Carter, Shrewsbury, Mass., assigner to Geo. J.

Meyer Manufacturing Co., Cudally, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Mar. 29, 1961, 'Sei'. No. 99,287 9 Claims. (Cl. 198-33) This invention pertains to labeling machines, and more especially to apparatus operative to dispose an article to be labeled in very accurate position for the reception of the label.

While it is always desirable to position an article which is to be labeled with a reasonable degree of accuracy While the label is being applied, such accuracy is particularly essential in the application of wrap-around labels to bottles and, in particular, when the bottles are tall and relatively narrow and when the labels are to be applied to necks which are not accurately cylindrical. While devices are in daily use for orienting an article preparatory to the reception of the label so as to bring a particular portion of the periphery of the article into proper relation to the label-applying means, such devices do not insure accurate perpendicularity of the axis of the bottle and, in fact, some such devices actually have a tendency to make the article lean in one direction or another.

Various expedients have been tried in the effort to obtain the desired accuracy, but no apparatus heretofore available has reliably accomplished the desired result. Special diiculty has been experienced when the bottles are moved uninterruptedly along by a conveyor while the labels are being applied.

In certain perior machines, wherein the label is aliixed to the bottle by a so-called grip finger which, after receiving the label moves inwardly toward the conveyor path substantially at right angles thereto for contacting the label with the bottle, a centering fork has been attached to the grip finger in the expectation that as the grip linger approaches the bottle, the bottle neck will pass between the tines of the fork and, because of the shape of these tines, the bottle will be straightened up to a certain extent so that its axis does not lean either to the right or left. However, while in theory such an arrangement would seem to be sul'licient, it does not work out that Way in practice; for example, because of variation in the sizes of the bottle necks. Thus, if the distance between the tines of the fork be large enough to accommodate the largest probable neck size, then accuracy is lost, while if, on the other hand, the distance between the fork tines be too small, there is a tendency to grip the bottle and, as the grip linger moves away from the bottle, to tip the bottle in that direction.

In some instances, particularly in machines wherein a rotating helix is employed for spacing the bottles and wherein a hold-down device is arranged to engage the bottle top just before the latter leaves the spacer helix, it has been proposed to provide a stationary spring, usually engageable with the shoulder of the bottle, with the object of urging the bottle down squarely against the conveyor. However, the conveyor is not always perfectly flat since it is usually made from a number of connected plates and, moreover, the bottle is not always perfectly square, that is to say, the bottom of the bottle may not be accurately at right angles to the Vertical axis of the bottle. Thus, when the spring pressure is applied to the shoulder of the bottle, it does not necessarily insure that the axis of the neck will be accurately vertical. Even though the bottom of a bottle be accurately at right angles to its vertical axis and, although the spring may actually dispose the axis of the bottle in the vertical plane `of the longitudinal center line of the conveyor, it has a tendency, by reason of its frictional action, to make the bottle lean backward. On the other hand, the spacer helix, in accordance with its particular design, may have a tendency to make the bottle lean forwardly in the direction of conveyor motion. Thus none of these prior suggestions has fully answered the requirement.

The present invention has for an object the provision of reliable, article-straightening means, applicable to labeling machines of the type in which hold-down means, for instance an endless belt, engages the tops of the articles which have been spaced by the spacer device and prevents them from turning as they continue on through the labelapplying zone. A further object is to provide accurately functioning, bottle-straightening means which is applicable to machines wherein, as the articles are advanced by a conveyor, they are spaced and/ or oriented by means of a rotating helix or helices as the articles move uninterruptedly through the labeling zone. A further object is to provide bottle-straightening apparatus of very simple and reliable type, which is applicable to machines wherein labels are applied simultaneously to more than one article, for example to two or more articles, and wherein the straightening device is so accurately timed, with reference to hold-down means, that the articles will be gripped by the hold-down means while they are still maintained by the straightening apparatus in accurately vertical position, thus insuring the desired accuracy at the time the label is applied, A further object is to provide power-driven straightening means accurately timed with relation to a moving conveyor and which, by contact with a moving article carried by the conveyor, acts to insure accurate perpendicularity of the axis of the article as it is delivered into the grip of a hold-down device. A further object is to provide means providing a recess for the reception of the neck of a bottle as the latter is being advanced by a conveyor and wherein, as the article advances, the recess is open to admit the bottle neck and is then partially closed about the bottle neck, and wherein that part of the wall of the recess, which engages the foremost element of the advancing bottle neck is moving at the same linear velocity as the conveyor and in the same direction at the instant the bottle top is clamped in place by the hold-down device.

Other and further objects and advantages of the inven-` tion will be pointed out in the following more detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating the straightening apparatus of the present invention and certain elements of a hold-down device of a known type;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the apparatus of FIG. l, together with a portion of a bottlespacing helix, a conveyor and details of the hold-down device;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3 3 of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4 4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a somewhat diagrammatic view illustrative of the manner in which the hold-down device is brought into operative engagement with the top of a bottle;

F-IG. 6 is a `further detail, to larger scaile than FIG. 5, illustrative of Ia preferred construction of hold-down device;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a guide for the operative run of the hold-down belt;

FIG. 8 is a section, to larger scale, on the line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a section, to larger scale, on the line 9-9 of FIG. 7, but sholwing the hold-down belt;

FIG. 10 is 1an elevation showing the shaft to which one of the guide pulleys for the hold-down beit is secured and by means of lwhich the star wheels of the present invention are driven;

FIG. l1 is a pilan View of a star wheel of a modified construction as compared with those shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. l2 is a diarnetrical view of the guide pulley which is mounted on and drives the shaft of FIG. 10.

The invention is herein specifically described and illustrated by way of example, but without limiting intent, as applied to a labeling machine of the kind disclosed in the patent to Carter, No. 2,940,630, dated June 14, 1960, wherein articles, such as bottles, are advanced uninterrupted'ly through a labeling zone by means of a constantly moving bek-type conveyor and are spaced by a rotating helix, parallel lto the conveyor path, and, while they are still under control of the spacing helix, are engaged by a hold-down device of the endless belt type, having a horizontal run which moves at exactly the same linear speed as the conveyor and in the same direction while exerting downward pressure upon the tops of the moving bottles. Other illustrative examples of machines wherein the present invention is useful are disclosed, for instance, in the patent to C-arter, No. 2,890,787, dated Iune 16, 1957; in the copending application of Carter, Serial No. 814,051, filed May 18, 1959, now Patent No. 3,054,496; and the Patent No. 3,004,650, to Pettee, issued October 17, 1961.

In substantially all machines which employ a hel-ix or opposed helices as article-spacing means, or as spotting means, there is a tendency, more or less pronounced, to cause the article, yfor example a bottle, to lean forwardly in the direction in which it is advanced by the conveyor. In accordance with the present invention an article holdback device, comprising a star wheel (and preferably two oppositely rotating star wheels), is arranged to engage the bottle neck just as the bottle enters the field of action of the hold-down or head grip, the star wheel or wheels being driven :at such `a speed `and being so accurately located, as by engagement with the forwardly leaning bottle, to retard it until its axis is accurately vertical and to hold it so positioned until it is firmly engaged by the holddown.

Referring to the drawings (FIGS. 2 and 5), the character C designates a conveyor of conventional type, for example an endless chain to whose links fiat pla-tes are attached which collectively constitute the article-supporting surface upon which, as herein shown, bottles B stand erect in uniformly spaced relation. The bottles shown are relatively tall and narrow and have `the necks N and the tops or caps T. A rotating helix or screw S is arranged with its axis parallel to the conveyor path and is driven at constant angular velocity by conventional means (not here shown), in a direction such as to urge the botbles to move in the same direction as the conveyor.

The hold-down device D (FIG. 5) comprises an endless belt H having a horizontal run which overl-ies the article path, las defined by the conveyor C, the belt H being driven at the same l-inear speed as the conveyor C.

This belt H comprises a flexible base portion H1 (FIG. 6), for example, of canvas or rubberized fabric. A socalled Gillmer Timer Belt which has teeth E molded on its inner surface to provide positive drive, similar to that of a sprocket chain, is very useful for the purpose. T o the outer surface of this tiexible base, that is .to say, the side opposite the toothed sur-face of the Gillmer-type belt, there is attached a layer HO (FIG. 6) of soft rubber, for example a layer approximately 1" in thickness. 'This rubber provides a resiliently yieldable cushion for contact with the tops of the `articles to be labeled. In order that this thick belt may have the requisite flexibility to enable it to move freely about the supporting and guiding pulleys, the rubber layer is provided at regular intervals, lfor example at a distance of 3%" apart with a series of holes H2 extending transversely through the thickness of the rubber layer. A slit H3 extends inwardly from the outer surface of the rubber layer to each of these holes H2. These slits thus divide the rubber layer into Substantially rectangular blocks I-I4 which are integrally joined at that portion of the rubber layer which is bonded to the base portion. In accordance With a preferred embodiment, .the slits H3 are inclined at an angle of about 35 to the vertical :and in such a direction that the blocks H4 incline upwardly and forwardly in the direction of movement of the operative lower run of the belt.

At its right-hand end, as viewed in FIG. 2, that is to say, adjacent to the point at which the articles are delivered by the spacing means into contact with the belt, the belt passes about a sprocket H5 (FIG. 12) and, at its opposite end, about a drive pulley (not here illustrated).

Directly above the conveyor C there is arranged a rigid frame H6, supported at its opposite ends by brackets, one of which is shown at H7 (FIG. 2) and which, like the correspondingly designated part in the above Patent No. 2,940,630, may be vertically adjustable (although not so shown herein), to accommodate the hold-down belt to articles of `different heights. The frame H6 provides a guide for the horizontal rslidable carrier H10, here shown as comprising spaced parallel bars rigidly connected. This carrier `supports bearings for the shaft H9 to which the sprocket H5 is fixed. The carrier is urged in a direction (to the right in FIG. 2) to keep the belt tight, by a spring H11, one end of which is `attached to a pin H12 fixed to the frame H6, while its other end is secured to a pin 137 fixed to the sliding carrier H10. The carrier H10 is provided with a yscrew-threaded opening which receives a long adjusting screw 140 whose screw-threaded portion is engaged with a stop member 141 -fixed -to the frame H6. If at any time it be desired to remove the hold-down belt, the screw 140 lmay be advanced into contact with the stop 141 and then, by continued rotation, the carrier H10 may be moved in opposition to the spring H11, thereby decreasing the effective length of the belt. The belt-supporting pulley (not here shown), at the opposite end of the belt from the sprocket H5, is driven by any suitable motion-transmitting connections in accurately timed relation to the conveyor C, so lthat the lower or operative horizontal run of the belt will move at exactly the same linear speed as the conveyor. For example, the belt and conveyor` may be driven by means such, for example, as is disclosed in detail in the above patent to Carter, No. 2,940,630. The frame H6 supports a horizontal rigid guide 1501 (FIG. 7) for the lower run of the belt H, so that Ithe lower surfaces of the blocks H4, collectively constituting the effective portion of the lower run of the belt, are disposed in a horizontal plane parallel to the article-supporting surface of the conveyor C. As here illustrated (FIGS. 8 and 9), the guide shoe comprises a part 200` which is secured, for example, by bolts :to the frame H6 and to whose underside there is secured an elongate member 201 which, in turn, supports a pair of spaced rails 202 (FIG. 8), having flanges which provide horizontal surfaces 203 for the reception of the edges of a fiange 204 (FIG. 9), formed on the hold-down belt. In FIG. 9 the hold-down belt is shown in vertical section and with the right and left-hand edges of its flange 204 shown as resting upon the surfaces 203. The lower run of the belt is thus supported so as to rnove in an accurately horizontal path and at a definite and uniform distance from the upper surface of the conveyor C.

The sprocket H5 (FIGS. 2, 5 and 12), about which the hold-down belt is entrained, has a hub portion 205 (FIG. 12) and radial teeth 206 which are designed to mesh wiht the toothed surface H1 of the belt. The hub 205 of this sprocket is fixed on the central part 207 (FIG. l0) of the horizontal shaft H9, the part 207, titting within 4the bore in the hub 205. The hub 205 is xed to the shaft H9 to turn therewith by a set screw passing through a radial hole 209 in the hub and into a threaded opening 210 in the part 207 of the shaft. Brackets 2111 and 212 (FIG. 1) are xedly secured by bolts to the ,5 slidable carrier H and these brackets support bearings, here shown in FIG. 3 as anti-friction bearings, the inner races of which are mounted upon enlarged portions 213 and 214 of the shaft H9. Within each of the brackets 211 and 212 (intermedia-te the parts 213 and 214 of the shaft H9), fthe shaft is provided with spiral gears 215 and 216 respectively, which mesh with complementary spiral gears 218 (FIG. 4) on shafts 219' and 220l respectively, whose axes are vertical and which turn in suitable anti-friction bea-rings provided within the brackets 211 and 212 respectively. The shafts 219 and 220 project downwardly below the brackets 211 and 212 and to a lsubstantial distance below the horizontal plane of the lower surface of the lower run of the hold-down belt, and on the lower end portions of these shafts star wheels 221 and 222 are mounted, these star wheels being in the same horizontal plane and the gearing arrangement being such that they turn in opposite directions. As illustrated in 'FIG. 1, each of these star wheels is provided with three recesses or pockets 223y and 224 respectively, in its arcuate peripheral edge. As shown in FIG. 1, the unrecessed portions of the edges of the star wheels are in contact, the point of contact being in the central longitudinal vertical plane of the conveyor C. The circular pitch of each pocket is such that each pocket travels at exactly the same rate of speed as the bottle is advanced by the spacer helix S.

Assuming, for example, that the bott-les on the conveyor are spaced 7 apart and that three bottles are processed lfor each cycle of the machine, it follows that each time a star wheel makes :a complete revolution three bottles will pass a given point which -is equivalent to 2l" of travel. Then, by proper timing and through the use of suitably designed spir-al gears, the circular pitch (that is, the outside diameter of each sta-r wheel) will move exactly 21 during each cycle of the machine. The star wheels are so mounted on their shafts as to permit them to Ybe rotatably adjusted thereby Ito calibrate them for accu- 4rate timing with each other and fwith the hold-down belt. Any desirable type of adjusting means may be employed, for example, a so-called taper-lock bushing Bx (FIG. 4), such as the Hold-A-Grip Bushing lmade and sold by the Boston Gear Works, of Boston, Massachusetts, may be fixed to each star wheel shaft and the star wheel moun-ted on this bushing. Desirably, a circular plate Gx is xed to the star wheel, constituting a hub for the latter, and the edge of this plate may be graduated (though not here so shown), Ifor instance from 1 to 40 in opposite directions from the zero point, to facilitate the adjustment of the star wheel on its shaft.

The star wheels 221 and 222 are so mounted upon their respective shafts and the latter are so timed that as the star wheels turn in opposite directions, the recesses 23 and 24 of the two star Wheels will be brought into registry in passing the center line which joins the axes of their shafts and these recesses are so shaped that a radial, end portion of the wall of a recess of each star wheel, perpendicular to the center line of the article path, engages the leading point in the periphery of the bottle neck just as said point passes the line connecting the axes fof the star wheels. If the #spacing or spotting helix be of a design such as to cause the bottle to lean forwardly as its neck enters the star wheel recess (the star wheel being driven by spiral gearing so that there is no backlash), the star fwheels will retard the bottle neck and straighten it up until, as the leading point in the periphery of the bottle neck passes the center line connecting the axes of the star wheel, the axis of the bottle will be vertical.

The inclination of the blocks of the hold-down belt is such that if the down-going portion of the hold-down belt comes into contact with the bottle top slightly before the leading point of the bottle neck reaches the line connecting the star wheels axes, the bottle top may be dragged back slightly, by action of the star wheels.

However, as noted, the instant at which the leading point in the bottle neck is crossing the line connecting the axes of the star wheels is the only time that the star wheels are compelling the bottle to travel at exactly the correct bottle pitch (spacing) and since immediately thereafter the pockets of the star wheels begin to move away from the bottle, the action of the star wheels is to tip the forwardly leaning bottle back until its axis is exactly vertical and lirmly established under the horizontal run of the hold-down belt and in time with the base of the bottle Whose position is determined by the helix. The bottle is now clamped firmly between the hold-down belt and the conveyor C and properly positioned for presentation to the label-aixing devices. Obviously, if the labeling machine be so designed as to apply labels to less than, or more than, the three bottles per cycle as here suggested, the star wheels will have a correspondingly different number of recesses. Thus FIG. 6 shows a single star wheel W having 9 equally spaced -recesses 223.

While the bottle is here referred to as the article to be straightened preparatory to the application of the label, it is to be understood that a bottle is referred to merely as an example of an article which may be positioned by the apparatus of the present invention and that said apparatus is useful as an adjunct to a labeling machine designed for labeling vertically elongate articles of any type.

While one desirable embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is broadly inclusive of any and all moditcations which fall within the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the kind wherein bottles are moved along a predetermined path by a conveyor and which comprises a constantly moving hold-down device which as operative, by engagement with the top of a bottle, to steady the latter during the application of a label, and wherein, as the bottles approach the point at which the hold-down device operatively engages an advancing bottle, the bottles are engaged by spacing means which spaces the bottles uniformly apart, in combination, power-driven straightening means, and means for actuating said straightening means in accurately timed relation to the conveyor and spacing means, said straightening means be- Jng operative to erect a bottle, which leans either forwardly or rearwardly, so that its axis is accurately vertical as the bottle approaches the point at which the holddown device engages the top of the bottle.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the straightening means comprises two parts arranged to move 1n a horizontal plane which lies between the hold-down device and the conveyor, said parts being supported to rotate about vertical axes disposed, respectively, at opposite sides of the conveyor path, each of said parts having a bottle-contacting edge which, in one position of said part, is perpendicular to the vertical `center plane of the article path, and means operative so to turn said parts that the bottle-contacting surfaces of both parts arrive at said position simultaneously.

3. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the straightening means comprises two parts arranged to move 1n a horizontal plane which lies between the hold-down device and the conveyor, said parts being supported to rotate about vertical axes disposed, respectively, at opposite sides of the conveyor path, each of said parts having a bottle-contacting edge which, in one position of the respective parts, is perpendicular to the Vertical center plane of the article path, and means for turning said parts in opposite directions and in accurately `timed relation such that, as said bottle-contacting edges arrive at a position, wherein they are aligned with each other, they are moving at the same linear velocity as the holddown device, thereby to insure accurate perpendicularity 7 of the axis of the bottle as the latter is delivered into the lield of action of the hold-down device.

4. In apparatus of that kind wherein a conveyor moves vertically elongate bottles along a predetermined path and which includes a rotary helix for spacing the bottles a uniform distance apart as they are so moved, and hold- `down means engageable with the tops of the bottles after they have been accurately spaced and which so clamps and holds the bottle against the conveyor that it cannot move relatively to the conveyor as it continues to travel, in combination, article-straightening means operative, by engagement with the bottle, just prior to its contact by the hold-down means, to dispose the axis of the bottle' in accurately vertical position, and wherein the article-straightening means comprises a pair of oppositely rotating discs whose peripheral edges contact, and which have recesses for the reception of the neck of a bottle as the latter approaches the 4field of action of the hold-down means.

5. In apparatus of that kind wherein a conveyor moves vertically elongate bottles along a predetermined path and which includes a rotary helix for spacing the bottles a uniform distance apart as they are so moved, and holddown means engageable with the tops of the bottles after they have been accurately spaced and which so clamps and holds the bottle against the conveyor that it cannot move Irelatively to the conveyor as it continues to travel, in combination, article-straightening means operative, by engagement with the bottle, just prior to its contact by the hold-down means, to dispose the axis of the bottle in accurately vertical position, and wherein the article-straightening means comprises star wheels located at opposite sides, respectively, of the conveyor path, and which are rotatable about vertical axes, and power-driven means for turning said star wheels in opposite directions and at the same angular velocity, said Star wheels being operative, by contact with a moving (bottle, to dispose the axis of the latter in accurately vertical position.

6. In apparatus of that kind wherein a conveyor moves vertically elongate bottles along a predetermined path and which includes a rotary helix for spacing the bottles a uniform distance apart as they are so moved, and holddown means engageable with the tops of the bottles after they have been accurately spaced and which so clamps and holds the bottle against the conveyor that it cannot move relatively to the conveyor as it continues to travel, in combination, article-straightening means operative, by engagement with the bottle, just prior to its contact by the hold-down means, to dispose the axis of the bottle in accurately vertical position, and wherein the hold-down means is an endless belt having a horizontal bottle-engaging run arranged parallel to and above the conveyor, and means for moving the belt at the same linear velocity as the conveyor, and wherein the bottlestraightening means comprises Star wheels located at opposite sides, respectively, of the conveyor path, and which are rotatable about vertical axes, means for transmitting motion directly from the hold-down belt to said star wheels, each of said star wheels having a recess so shaped and dimensioned that when the recesses of the respective star wheels are opposed to each other their edges partially embrace the 1bottle neck.

7. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the hold-down means comprises an endless belt having a horizontal run arranged direct-ly above the conveyor and at a distance above the latter, such that when it contacts the top of a bottle, it applies downward force such as to clamp the bottle down onto the conveyor, and wherein the hold-down means moves at a linear velocity equal to that of the conveyor, the means for straightening the bottles comprising a pair of star wheels rotatable about vertical axes disposed at opposite sides of the conveyor path, and means for transmitting motion lfrom the holddown belt to the star wheels.

8. The combination according to claim y6, wherein the hold-down belt has teeth on one face which engage driving means operative to drive the belt at a linear velocity accurately equal to that of the conveyor, and the means for transferring motion to the star wheels comprises a sprocket wheel which engages and which is driven by the teeth on the hold-down belt', and a rotatable shaft upon which the sprocket Wheel is lfixed, said shaft extending transversely of the hold-down belt, spiral gears iixed to said shaft at opposite sides of the sprocket wheel, Vertical shafts upon which the respective star wheels are mounted, and a spiral gear on each worm Wheel shaft, which meshes, respectively, with one of the spiral gears on the sprocket wheel shaft.

9. In apparatus of that ikind wherein a conveyor moves vertically elongate bottles along a predetermined path and which includes a rotary helix for spacing the bottles a uniform distance apart as they are so moved, and holddown means engagealble with the tops of the bottles after they have been accurately spaced and which so clamps and holds the bott-le against the conveyor that it cannot move relatively to the conveyor as it continues to travel, in combination, article-straightening means operative, by engagement with the bottle, just prior to its contact by the hold-down means, to dispose the axis of the bottle in accurately vertical position, and wherein the machine comprises a shaft which turns once for each cycle of operation of the machine, and wherein the machine is operative to process a plurality of articles during each cycle, and wherein thek bottle straightening means comprises star wheels located at opposite sides, respectively, of the conveyor path, and each star wheel has a plurality of peripherally spaced recesses equal in number to the number of articles processed per cycle, and means for turning eachstar Wheel at an angular velocity such that that point of the wall of its recess which contacts the bottle neck is moving at exactly the same linear speed as the hold-down means when it first engages the bottle neck.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,479,822 Enkur Aug. 2-3, 1949 2,506,963 Magnusson May 9, 1950 2,579,631 Von Hofe Dec. 25, 1951 2,739,695 Haycock Mar. 27, 1956 2,890,787 Carter June 16, 1959 2,940,630 Carter June 14, 1960 

1. IN A MACHINE OF THE KIND WHEREIN BOTTLES ARE MOVED ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH BY A CONVEYOR AND WHICH COMPRISES A CONSTANTLY MOVING HOLD-DOWN DEVICE WHICH IS OPERATIVE, BY ENGAGEMENT WITH THE TOP OF A BOTTLE, TO STEADY THE LATTER DURING THE APPLICATION OF A LABEL, AND WHEREIN, AS THE BOTTLES APPROACH THE POINT AT WHICH THE HOLD-DOWN DEVICE OPERATIVELY ENGAGES AN ADVANCING BOTTLE, THE BOTTLES ARE ENGAGED BY SPACING MEANS WHICH SPACES THE BOTTLES UNIFORMLY APART, IN COMBINATION, POWER-DRIVEN STRAIGHTENING MEANS, AND MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID STRAIGHTENING MEANS IN ACCURATELY TIMED RELATION TO THE CONVEYOR AND SPACING MEANS, SAID STRAIGHTENING MEANS BEING OPERATIVE TO ERECT A BOTTLE, WHICH LEANS EITHER FORWARDLY OR REARWARDLY, SO THAT ITS AXIS IS ACCURATELY VERTICAL AS THE BOTTLE APPROACHES THE POINT AT WHICH THE HOLDDOWN DEVICE ENGAGES THE TOP OF THE BOTTLE. 